Agenda item

This Council believes the pensioners' winter fuel allowance is an invaluable lifeline to thousands of older people in Leeds at risk of not being able to heat their homes.

Council therefore opposes the proposal to scrap this vital pensioner benefit and calls on the Government to honour the pre-election promise made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fully fund the winter fuel allowance.

It was moved by Councillor Lamb, seconded by Councillor L Buckley that this Council believes the pensioners' winter fuel allowance is an invaluable lifeline to thousands of older people in Leeds at risk of not being able to heat their homes.

Council therefore opposes the proposal to scrap this vital pensioner benefit and calls on the Government to honour the pre-election promise made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to fully fund the winter fuel allowance.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Harland, seconded by Councillor Coupar

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“….notes the Labour Government’s work to return stability to the economy and address the £22bn budget black hole left by the previous Conservative Government. 

Council notes the Labour Government’s commitment to ensure all pensioners eligible for Pension Credit are signed up to ensure they receive the Winter Fuel Payment and other benefits linked to Pension Credit. Council also notes the Labour Government’s commitment to extend the Household Support Fund which will further help support those in need in Leeds this winter.  

Council regrets the voting record of the Conservative Group in the Council chamber including voting 9 times since 2017 against or not supporting motions calling for the extension of the Household Support Fund; provide support with energy costs; tv licences for pensioners; and reduce the impact of universal credit cuts. 

Council further notes comments by a Conservative leadership candidate calling for Winter Fuel Payments to be means tested. 

Council remains committed to working with partners to signpost residents to local support available to older people across Leeds and encouraging eligible pensioners to claim Pension Credit.

Council calls on the government to maintain the Winter Fuel Payment for those pensioners that need it, put in place a programme to insulate homes, extend the Warm Homes Discount, a windfall tax on giant oil and gas companies and to reduce everyone’s energy bills for good with clean homegrown energy.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Goodall, seconded by Councillor Cunningham

In the second paragraph, delete all after “Council therefore opposes” and replace with:

“such a harsh change to the allowance, which will particularly affect those with incomes just above the pension credit income threshold.”

Add an additional third paragraph:

“Council calls on the government to raise the pension credit threshold to allow more people to receive the winter fuel allowance and to introduce a wealth tax to tackle income inequality for all, including older people.”

The amended White Paper will then read:

This Council believes the pensioners' winter fuel allowance is an invaluable lifeline to thousands of older people in Leeds at risk of not being able to heat their homes.

Council therefore opposes such a harsh change to the allowance, which will particularly affect those with incomes just above the pension credit income threshold.

Council calls on the Government to raise the pension credit threshold to allow more people to receive the winter fuel allowance and to introduce a wealth tax to tackle income inequality for all, including older people.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Goodall was declared lost the amendment in the name of Councillor Harland was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council notes the Labour Government’s work to return stability to the economy and address the £22bn budget black hole left by the previous Conservative Government. 

Council notes the Labour Government’s commitment to ensure all pensioners eligible for Pension Credit are signed up to ensure they receive the Winter Fuel Payment and other benefits linked to Pension Credit. Council also notes the Labour Government’s commitment to extend the Household Support Fund which will further help support those in need in Leeds this winter.  

Council regrets the voting record of the Conservative Group in the Council chamber including voting 9 times since 2017 against or not supporting motions calling for the extension of the Household Support Fund; provide support with energy costs; tv licences for pensioners; and reduce the impact of universal credit cuts. 

Council further notes comments by a Conservative leadership candidate calling for Winter Fuel Payments to be means tested. 

Council remains committed to working with partners to signpost residents to local support available to older people across Leeds and encouraging eligible pensioners to claim Pension Credit.

Council calls on the government to maintain the Winter Fuel Payment for those pensioners that need it, put in place a programme to insulate homes, extend the Warm Homes Discount, a windfall tax on giant oil and gas companies and to reduce everyone’s energy bills for good with clean homegrown energy.”

On the requisition of Councillors Lamb and Cohen the voting on the substantive motion was recorded as follows;

YES -59

Akhtar, A Ali, S Ali, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Bruce, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Edwards, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Grahame, Haigh, Hamilton, Hannan, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, Hinchcliffe, Holroyd-Case, Z Hussain, Iqbal, Jenkins, Jones, Khan, Leighton, Lennox, Lewis, Lloyd, Maloney, Manaka, Martin, McCluskey, Millar, Parnham, Pryor, Rae, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Rontree, Scopes, Shahzad, Taylor, Thomson, Timmins, Tudor, Venner, Wilson, Wray, Chesterfield, Dixon, Pogson-Golden, Gettings

NO – 24

B Anderson, L Buckley, N Buckley, Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Harrington, Lamb, D Seary, S Seary, Stephenson, Kidger, Smith, Cunningham, Brown, Finnigan, Newton, M Ali, Cunningham, Goodall, Stables, McCormack, Field

ABSTAIN – 6

Campbell, Chapman, Downes, Golton, Hart-Brooke, Lay